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A "Tree of Hope" for teenager Jayme Closs is seen outside Riverview Middle School in Barron on Friday.

BARRON — A Wisconsin girl who investigators believe was kidnapped after her parents were killed two months ago is being honored in her hometown with a Christmas tree adorned with messages of hope for her safe return.

Hundreds of people attended a gathering Wednesday evening in Barron to light a "tree of hope" for 13-year-old Jayme Closs. The middle school student hasn't been seen since before her parents, James and Denise Closs, were found fatally shot in their home on Oct. 15.

"We just pray every day, and we just hope for her safe return," said her uncle, Mike Closs.

The 16-foot tree was erected at Riverview Middle School and decorated with messages such as "Pray for Jayme" and "Bring Jayme Home." The tree was lighted in blue, her favorite color, and green to symbolize missing child awareness.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald told WEAU-TV that there have been no new breaks in the case, but he said the Wednesday event lifted his spirits. The gathering included songs, the release of lighted lanterns, and a message from Barron native and "The Voice" finalist Chris Kroeze.

"I haven't smiled in a long time, so this is awesome," Fitzgerald said.

The event was coordinated by the school and by Hormel Foods and Jennie-O Turkey Store, which employed the Closs parents.

"May this tree of hope for Jayme, filled with shining lights, be a symbol to us, to our community, that the darker it gets, the brighter light of hope shines," the Rev. Ron Matthews said.

Anyone with information that could help investigators is urged to call 1-855-744-3879.

Jayme Closs honored by Legislature

Kidnapping victim Jayme Closs, second from left, appears with her family and supporters to receive a "hometown hero" award Wednesday from the state Assembly. Closs escaped in January after her parents were killed and she was held captive for three months in a remote cabin.

SCOTT BAUER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Closs family members react after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months, during a hearing at the Barron County Justice Center on March 27.

T'xer Zhon Kha, Post-Crescent

Wisconsin Killings-Kidnapping

Patrick Patterson, right, and his daughter, Katie, arrive for the arraignment hearing of his son, Jake Patterson, on March 27 at the Barron County Justice Center in Barron.

MARK HOFFMAN, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Jake Patterson appears for a hearing at the Barron County Justice Center on March 27. Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER, STAR TRIBUNE

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Jake Patterson appears for a hearing at the Barron County Justice Center on March 27 in Barron. Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

T'xer Zhon Kha, Appleton Post-Crescent

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

A Closs family member react as she leaves the courtroom after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

T'xer Zhon Kha, Post-Crescent

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Closs family members leave the courtroom after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs and killing her parents.

Wisconsin Killings-Kidnapping

Lynn Closs leaves courtroom

Lynn Closs, aunt of Jayme Closs, leaves the courtroom March 27 after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

MARK HOFFMAN, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

Elizabeth Smart speaks in Barron

Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped and held hostage at the age of 14 for nine months in 2002, speaks March 15 in the aftermath of the abduction of local teen Jayme Closs last October and the killing of Jayme's parents, at a town hall forum at Barron High School in Barron. She gave local residents tips on how to deal with the aftermath.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Elizabeth Smart speaks in Barron

Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped and held hostage at the age of 14 for nine months in 2002, speaks on the aftermath of the abduction of local teen Jayme Closs last October and the killing of Jayme's parents, at a town hall forum Friday at Barron High School.

RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER, STAR TRIBUNE

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Jake Patterson appears for his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Barron County Circuit Court. Patterson is accused of killing James and Denise Closs on Oct. 15 and kidnapping their daughter, Jayme Closs, from their Barron home. Jayme escaped on Jan. 10, after 88 days.

Cabin where Jayme Closs was held

The cabin in the town Gordon where authorities say 13-year-old Jayme Closs was held by Jake Thomas Patterson is surrounded by law enforcement vehicles Saturday.

AARON LAVINSKY, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald holds up the booking photo of Jake Thomas Patterson, who allegedly kidnapped Jayme Closs, during a news conference Friday in Barron. Jayme, a 13-year-old girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed, was found alive in the rural town of Gordon, about 60 miles north of her home in Barron. Investigators believe Patterson, who was taken into custody shortly after Closs was found, killed her parents because he wanted to abduct her.

JEAN PIERI, PIONEER PRESS

Jake Thomas Patterson

Patterson

BARRON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

Two Dead-Child Missing

The sign outside Barron City Hall on Friday welcomes Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who had been missing since her parents were killed in October. Closs was found alive Thursday in the rural town of Gordon, about 60 miles north of her home.

AARON LAVINSKY, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a news conference Friday in Barron regarding the arrest of Jake Thomas Patterson, who allegedly kidnapped Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed.

AARON LAVINSKY, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Kristin Kasinskas, left, husband, Peter, and Jeanne Nutter and her dog Henry head back to their homes after speaking with the media Friday in Gordon. Kristin Kasinskas called 911 on Thursday to report that Jayme Closs, 13, had been found after Nutter, who was out walking her dog, encountered her and brought her to Kasinskas' house. Closs had been missing since her parents were killed in October.

RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Kristin Kasinskas and her husband, Peter, who live on South Eau Claire Acres Circle, speak with the media Friday in Gordon. Kristin Kasinskas called 911 on Thursday to report that Jayme Closs had been found after another neighbor encountered her and brought her to the Kasinskas house.

RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

A thank you sign is displayed Friday after Barron teenager Jayme Closs was found alive.

Jeff Baenen

Two Dead Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a news conference Friday after Jayme Closs, 13, was found alive after being missing for nearly three months.

Aaron Lavinsky

Two Dead Child Missing

A "Tree of Hope" for teenager Jayme Closs is seen outside Riverview Middle School in Barron on Friday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers are given directions Tuesday near Barron before searching for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who went missing Oct. 15 when her parents were found fatally shot at their home. The search for Closs was expanded Tuesday.

EVAN FROST, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers cross a creek and barbed wire near Barron on Tuesday on their way to a ground search for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15 after her parents were found fatally shot at their home. The search for Closs was expanded Tuesday, with as many as 2,000 volunteers expected to take part in a search of the area.

JEFF BAENEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers line up along Highway 25 just north of Barron Tuesday to help in the search for Jayme Closs, a missing teenage Wisconsin girl whose parents were killed in the family's home. Jayme has been missing since Oct. 15, when deputies responding to a 911 call found that someone had broken into the family's home in Barron and gunned down James and Denise Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Hundreds of volunteers gather Tuesday in Barron to assist in the search for Jayme Closs, a missing teenage Wisconsin girl whose parents were killed in the family's home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Greg Niemuth of Eau Claire searches a wooded area Tuesday north of Barron for missing 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

A volunteer uses a stick to brush away dense leaf cover in woods near Barron on Tuesday while searching for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who went missing Oct. 15 when her parents were found fatally shot at their home.

EVAN FROST, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO

Search expands for missing girl

Louie Lauderdale of Lake Geneva searches near a cornfield along 15th Avenue near Highway 25 just north of Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15 after her parents were found fatally shot at their home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers gather at a cornfield along 15th Avenue near Highway 25 just north of Barron on Tuesday as they search for 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Steven Fowler of Luck and his dog Cheeka search a cornfield along 15th Avenue near Highway 25 just north of Barron on Tuesday as they search for Jayme Closs.

Jerry Holt

Search expands for missing girl

Steven Fowler of Luck and his dog Cheeka search a cornfield north of Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers search a field along north of Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15 after her parents were found fatally shot at their home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteer Tim Collins of Shoreview, Minn., and his dog Gretchen search near Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

EVAN FROST, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO

Search expands for missing girl

A sign is seen Tuesday in the small town of Barron, where 13-year-old Jayme Closs' parents were found shot to death at their home on Oct. 15. Searchers were looking Tuesday for the girl.

JEFF BAENEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search expands for missing girl

A Barron County sheriff's vehicle sits Tuesday outside the home where James Closs and Denise Closs were found fatally shot on Oct. 15. A search was being organized to find the couple's missing 13-year-old daughter, Jayme.

JEFF BAENEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two Dead-Child Missing

Barron County sheriff's deputies remained at the scene of the home where 13-year-old Jayme Closs lived with her parents, James and Denise, on Oct. 17, 2018, in Barron. Investigators have been searching for 13-year-old Jayme Closs since deputies responding to a 911 call early Monday found her parents dead in their home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Two parents found dead; child still missing

A group of volunteers on Thursday search the ditches along Highway 8 in Barron, near the home where missing 13-year-old Jayme Closs lived with her parents, who were found dead early Monday.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead-Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a press conference Wednesday about 13-year-old Jayme Closs who has been missing since her parents were found dead in their home in Barron early Monday.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Jayme Closs

Jayme Closs

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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More information

Detectives have pursued more than 2,300 leads, watched dozens of surveillance videos and spent countless hours searching for Jayme Closs, trying to figure out what happened to her ever since her parents were fatally shot in their home near Barron in northwestern Wisconsin.